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September 4, 2010

G135: White Sox 3, Red Sox 1

Buchholz (5-6-2-1-2, 95) threw a ton of pitches early, 22 in the second, 32 in the third, and 26 in the fourth. He left the game trailing only 2-1, but the Red Sox bats were helpless.

Boston loaded the bases with one out in the second, but Danks (7-6-1-3-5, 103) fanned Bill Hall and got Darnell McDonald on a force out. A single by Hall, a walk to McDonald and Marco Scutaro's single gave the Red Sox a run in the fifth, but the 2-3-4 hitters squandered a chance at a big inning. J.D. Drew flew out to center, Victor Martinez flew out to left, and Adrian Beltre lined to left.

September 4, 1971 - The Reds lose to the Dodgers 2-1 in Los Angeles -- and almost lose shortstop Woody Woodward. A 10-pound sack of flour falls from a passing airplane, and lands 10-15 feet from where Woodward is standing in the ninth inning.

10 years ago today, 9/4/00:In the Red Sox's win over the Mariners, 5 - 1, Carl Everett of the Sox becomes only the sixth major-league switch-hitter to drive in 100 runs in both leagues when he knocks in his 100th ribbie of the year. Pedro Martinez is the big star, striking out 11 in eight innings to go 7 - 0 over the M's. Jamie Moyer loses his 6th in a row, though not through his fault as a routine fly ball by Jose Offerman to Mike Cameron becomes a 3-run triple when the center fielder stumbles. Prior to the game, Boston retires Hall of Fame C Carlton Fisk's uniform number 27.

This was my first summer after moving back to New England, and I only went to a handful of games (compared to now), but I went to this one. I forgot my camera that day, but my lasting memory from this game was walking down Lansdowne after the game. Pedro was in his prime and had had yet another dominating performance. Some guys on the street had a giant Dominican flag. Cars were exiting the parking garage and turning onto Lansdowne. As the cars came through, the guys stood on either side of the car holding the flag. People on the street started chanting "Pedro, Pedro".

Pedro in 2000 was better than everyone but not better than his own best year, 1999.

Nice memory, I'm a huge fan too. One of my great non-game baseball moments was seeing Petey at spring training. He was in street clothes, signing autographs for a small crowd that had gathered. We were all being very quiet and respectful, as if we didn't want to scare him away. He looked great and signed for a long time.

And Manny's slide was exactly like the slide Ichiro made recently that was called interference and a Sox DP.

NESN's crack analyst could have brought that point up, but (a) he would have had to remember the play (I recalled it immediately *because* it was so similar) and (b) making a "clever" wise crack is far more easier.

The Sack of flour story is probably an urban legend baseball style. The LA Times archives has no mention of the incident, the NY Times and Washington Post don't either, Google news archive comes up with a big fat zero. Can you tell me a player nearly gets killed on the field and not one media source covers it.

There's a problem in the story also. As told Woodward is playing on the field during the 9th inning when the incident happened. The Dodgers won that game with Cincinnati taking the field in the 9th inning.(Dodgers were home and leading entering the 9th). So the story is front on that basis, not to mention the strong possibility its a total hoax